You'd think that if you look at each in isolation, but with bit/kit spill over between projects, baring "time spent" as a cost, it comes out to less when you hash out the final math.

Two Forgefiends, for example, would normally come to $164 plus tax. A one Fiend and a Dreadknight, however, comes to $146.50, saving $17.50 right there. But then components from both those kits (baby-on-board termie, lasher tendrils) get combined with other bits on-hand to make a Warp Smith, valued by GW at $36, and generally turning out nicer in my opinion, bringing us to $53.50 better value than invested. And that's not even factoring other bits I have set aside to make other magnetized weapon options, such as the Heavy Conversion Beamer whom which the idea of I am flirting with.

Likewise, the cost of straight up buying a Decimator Daemon Engine (plus arms, those come separate) would be around $103 plus shipping, plus tariffs, plus wait time. Helbrute and a Sentinel? $101, plus tax, less league discount, and into my hands as soon as I pass money to Darren. Left over bits from the Helbrute will likely be combined with a second hand dread with some Green Stuff to yield a low-cost Helbrute conversion, and left overs from the Sentinel will go into a number of other projects as well, including making the chassis from the Manticore I got some time ago to part out to go into bikers into a Storm Chimera, with the Las Cannon being reserved for a weapon swap on the Dark Vengeance re-release. Another pauldron and the power scourge are likely to end up becoming a Magos as well, because why not.

To top it all off, I get to enjoy knowing that most of my conversions are unique and visually interesting, giving me great play value.

It might take me a while to get around to using everything, but everything will eventually be used.